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Rangers put Ogando on DL for third time

ANTHONYANDRO

FS Southwest

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas starter
Alexi Ogando is back in an all too familiar spot for the
Rangers – the disabled list.

Texas put the right-hander on the DL for the third time this season Tuesday, clearing a roster spot for Tuesday starter Travis Blackley. To make room for Blackley on the 40-man roster, the Rangers recalled Matt West and put him on the 60-day DL.

Ogando (5-4) missed three weeks with right biceps tendinitis and six weeks because of shoulder inflammation. It's shoulder inflammation again for Ogando, but the club is hoping this will be a shorter DL stint. He's already had a cortisone injection and is taking medicine for the inflammation.

"We looked at it originally if it was just going to be one start we could maybe play with the roster a little bit and he could start next week," Texas general manager Jon Daniels said. "It's probably going to be two starts at a minimum, hopefully it's only two. We just figured let's get it completely knocked out of there and see where he is."

Daniels said the plan for Ogando is for him to return as a starter, at least for this year. No decision past that has been made. He also said the team is confident with the rotation it has in place and he doesn't expect the team to add another starter from outside the organization.

"We're fully expecting to go with this group," Daniels said.

Ogando said he'd prefer for his future to be as a starter but his immediate goal is to get back to 100 percent as soon as he can.

"No player wants to be on the DL," he said. "You want to compete. You want to help the team."

While there's no timeline for Ogando's return, it looks like the Rangers could be getting some offensive and bullpen help Sept. 1.

Daniels said he expects Lance Berkman to be activated from the DL Sept. 1 when the rosters expand. That's also about the same time right-hander
Neftali Feliz is expected to be ready.

Feliz, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery, struck out two in his rehab appearance for Triple A Round Rock Monday. Daniels said he expects Feliz to pitch two innings in an appearance and he could also need to pitch in back-to-back games before being ready.

"He's getting a little better every time out," Daniels said. "His velocity is ticking up. He was throwing harder in Arizona before he went out but he had the little bit of triceps deal. He hasn't said anything to us but my sense is he's taking it step by step to make sure he's 100 percent, which is smart. It sounds like his fastball is picking up and he had some really good changeups."